Reviews

After all the vacuous attempts at new comedy "lets make it weird to please the millennials" this sitcom is refreshingly normal and funny. No American style one-liners just well written dialogue with no pausing or smirking whilst listening to audience fake laughter. From the opening clever credits through every well directed scene the actors are given room to present their craft. Will it be a Blackadder or a Fawlty Towers, probably not, but my guess on a par with Black Books. Hauer is fairly wooden in everything he does and Porters is no exception but maybe the old "stager" will grow into his role much like the Colonel in MASH did after 50 episodes. Well worth watching and a good laugh.

Not sure which side of the bed (or whose) the other reviewer -ianlouisana got out of but maybe is a relation to Boris or permanently repressed. I found this two part serial compelling viewing, well researched, flavour and atmosphere of the times reminiscent of The Village with John Simm and Maxine Peake. Women in Victorian times had a place in society that was subservient and dependent upon male vanity and compassion. Not until after WWI, despite some notable exceptions, do they gain the independence of spirit and opportunity to exist outside the bounds of duty and childbirth. This tale relates the story of a tormented soul torn between the poorhouse and an institution she cannot or will not join. Serial killers deserve to be hanged (so was the punishment of the day) regardless of their gender. Watch and be moved by this TV drama.

I have watched many episodes and I think the format is refreshing and bold. I only wish that the teasers and trailers could be taken out (applies to most shows actually) because I have already tuned in so I do not need to waste a minute telling me what's coming next! Nor do I need to see a snippet synopsis of next weeks episode (who do they think I am? American or something? with a short attention span ?). The shows producers have taken time and trouble to match the interests of the couples but sometimes I think this takes some of the quirkiness away from the encounters. Since most "dates" eventually lead to no further meetings it is fascinating to watch how people deal with their obvious dislike and disinterest in the other person. All the participants have come across as being genuine and only one person has impolitely left suddenly at the last interview. I do not understand the reviewer who questioned why some of the participants repeatedly come back. These people want to find a mate with whom they can settle down with for the rest of their lives. Questioning their reasoning is for another show. My admiration goes out to those who constantly put themselves in the firing line for rejection and a massive plus must be the anticipation of the next date and who you shall meet. A great show and well worth a watch. 10/10.

As seems obvious from all the other Reviews and Reviewers none have ever worked in an IT Department. Graham Linehan and the rest of the writers in this absolutely terrific show have captured the essence of life as we live it below Ground. The two main characters are perceived as lazy yet combine to produce new applications which work, provide a telephone help line for frankly moronic people and still they manage to be unappreciated by the rest of the firm. Quite frankly having a PC at home does not constitute knowing about computers or IT or how they are run or how they work.

The comedy is superb, with just the right mix of true characterisations and absurd situations eg. fire below ground being one of our worst fears and the soldering iron would never have been ignored by a true Moss-like character. I know personally at least three people with Moss's personality and tens of Jen's in managerial positions knowing nothing but put in charge because they are good looking and can spout the right amount of corporate speak.

Having seen that frankly disappointing comedy, starring Nicholas Lyndhurst, about computer programmers I had little expectations of this masterpiece. I can only urge all other Humanoid Interface users (as we refer to non-IT persons) to watch, listen and learn a little of our life. We are easily shunned and ignored by the rest of society but thanks to Graham Linehan and the cast a little light is being shed.

Best thread of all is 'Yes Jen, this is the Internet!'. So true to life, so cruel yet scampish, gullibility exploited, mysterious (Hawk and the Elders), yet in the end the boys get their reward with a bit of light relief. Comedic genius and inspired writing.

And what dear Reviewer is wrong with having the best pair of earphones that money can buy for an MP3 player? Its what you hear that counts and not the features on the player. And yes the gold plated heavy-duty Scart cables are worth the money (goodbye interference issues!).